£340,000 upgrade of A68 at Jedburgh to be completed

The closure, involving long diversions for through traffic, is to allow new trunk road contractors Amey to resurface a 200-metre section at Lintalee, one-and-a-half miles south of the town.

Since August, 2013, that stretch has been single lane and controlled by traffic lights after serious subsidence, affecting the stability of both the carriageway and a retaining wall, was discovered.

This has resulted in long tailbacks of traffic both north and south, particularly at peak times, and criticism of Transport Scotland for the delay in tackling the problem.

Indeed the bulk of the work, to insert a series of rock anchors to prevent further slippage of the wall, did not take place until February this year when a convoy system temporarily replaced the traffic lights.

The resurfacing required to finish the job, originally planned for April, will start at 10am tomorrow (Friday) and continue until Sunday when the road will be closed in both directions.

After two years of traffic lights, two-way traffic will resume on Monday morning.

This weekend’s diversions will see southbound traffic on the A68 diverted onto the A698 at Cleikimmin junction and thence onto the A6088 via Bonchester Bridge before rejoining the A68.

Northbound traffic will follow the same diversion in the opposite direction although the section of the A68 south of Lintalee will stay open for local residential and business access.

“For two years this has been an issue for both locals and visitors and I’m delighted an end is in sight,” commented Jedburgh councillor Jim Brown.

The estimated total value of engineering and resurfacing work at Lintalee is £340,000.

“This will ensure this busy section of Scotland’s trunk road network continues to operate safely and reliably for years to come,” said a spokesperson for Amey.